Radiator-protector.



J. A. ROT HSCH ILD.

RADIATOR PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 4. I 9 I I.

Patent@ Feb. 26, 1918.

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JESSE A. ROTHSCHILD, 0F CHICAGO, ILLNOIS.

RADIATOR-PROTECTOR.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb., 26., 191%.,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JESSE A. ROTHSCHILD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented a new and useful llmprovement in Radiator-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates particularly to protectors for automobile radiators; and the primary object is to provide a protector of the character indicated, which is equipped with means for regulating the admission' of air to the radiator, such means being adjustable from the cliaulfeurs seat. The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of an automobile radiator equipped with a cover, or protector, embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken perspective view.

of the radiator protector; Fig. 3, a' broken horizontal sectional view, taken as` indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a broken longitudinal vertical section of an automobile, showing the improvement applied thereto, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a broken view, partly in 'section, of the spring-actuatedroller employed in connection with an adjustable curtain, or shutter; and Fig. 6, a perspective view of a catch, or adjusting device, employed.

ln the construction illustrated, A represents the improved radiator cover, or protector; B, the radiator of an automobile; C, the hood of the automobile; and D, the dash, or front wall, of the automobile body.

The device A preferably comprises a fab-` ric cover 1, shaped to conform to the radiator, and having a rectangular opening which conforms approximately to the outline of the cellular structure of the radiator; a rectangular metallic frame 2, which is secured, by rivets 2a, to the fabric 1, at the margin of its ventilator opening; a spring-roller 3, mounted in brackets, with which the frame@ is equipped at its lower corners; and a curtain, or shutter, 4, attached at its lower end to the roller 3. I

Attached to the upper edge of the curtain 4 is a cord, or flexible connection, 5, which extends through a curved conduit 6, with which the flexible cover 1 is equipped at its upper portion, thence through a guide, or

conduit, 7 and finally to a forked clip, or adjustment device, 8, with which the dash D is equipped.

The fabric portion 1 of the cover may be formed of the usual materials, such as a pantasote fabric and a felt lining. rlhe fabric member 1 may be provided with the usual rearwardly-turned flange, or flap, 1a, which covers the top and lateral edges of the radiator.

The frame 2 may be of integral formation, produced by stamping the frame from sheetmetal; or, otherwise, the frame may be formed in any suitable manner. Preferably, its lateral or vertical members arc formed to provide guides, or channels, 2", which receive the lateral edges of the curtain, or shutter, 4. ln the illustration'given` the channels 2b are provided by bending thc metal which forms the lateral members of the frame back upon itself Aat the two sides, leaving spaces, or slots, in which the curtain may work.

The roller 3 is provided with a spring 3b, which ltends to turn the roller in such direction as to wind the curtain thereon, and thus lower the curtain. The curtain is equipped at its upper edge with a stifening member, or slat, 4a, to which the cord 5 is attached.

The cord 5 is provided near its rear end with a series of rigidly-secured balls, or knots, 5a, any one of which may be brought into engagement with the forked, or slotted,

member 8. Thus, the member 8 is in the form of a pair of claws adapted to support the curtain 4'at any desired height, through the medium of the cord 5. The conduit 6 passes through the upper portion of the fabric 1, and is secured thereto by a loop of fabric 9. The rear end of the tube, or conduit, 6, passes through a small opening 6, with which the hood C is provided centrally near its front end. The tube, or conduit, 7, is carried by a support 7", which may constitute a part of the front wall, or footboard, of the automobile body. The holder, or support, 8, is placed in such position as to support the cord at a point readily accessible to the chauHeur. The cord 5 is further pro vided at its extremity with a ring 5b, to facilitate the manipulation.

The curtain, or shutter, 4, is Hexible and preferably of fabric, and may be lined with felt, if desir.

In very cold weather, it is desirable to have the lower portion of the ventilator opening of the radiator cover protected, so that there will be no danger of the water freezing at the lower portion of the radiator. For this reason, it is preferred to place the roller 3 at the lower margin of the ventilator opening; and, in use, the curtain, or shutter, 4, is raised to a suiicient extent to insure the best operation of the motor, depending upon the temperature of the external atmosphere. The adjustment, as will be understood, can be made by the operator from his seat in the automobile. This is an important advantage, for the reason that it is quite a common' occurrence to fail to uncover the ventilator in starting the automobile, thereby resulting in boiling the water and driving off the alcohol, which is ordinarily used to produce a non-freezing solution. It is important, likewise, to be able to regulate the temperaturel in the radiator and under the hood with facility, without leaving the seat of the automobile.

While the construction described is the preferred construction, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. It is preferred to locate the roller 3 at the bottom of the ventilator opening, but this is not an indispensable arrangement. Moreover, the adjustable curtain, or shutter,'equipped with means for e'ecting the adjustment from the interior of the automobile body, may be applied to the radiator in any suitable manner, the guides for the cord, or ii'exible member 5, being arranged in such manner as may be most convenient.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a radiator cover composed of fabric and having a flap embracing the top and lateral edges of the radiator, a frame applied to and supported by said fabric and having lateral members provided with guide-channels, a spring-actuated roller carried by said frame, a curtain attached to said roller and movable in said guides, and actuating means for said curtain extending to a point accessible to a person in the car.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a flexible radiator cover having a flap adapted to embrace the top and lateral edges of the radiator and havingalso a ventilator opening, a rectangular frame secured to said cover at the margins of said opening and provided with vertical guides, a spring-actuated roller mounted on one end of said frame, a curtain attached to said roller, and operating means for said curtain extending into the body of the automobile.

JESSE A. ROTHSCHILD. 

